“Pyschoacoustics”
Idea of the site:
There are quite a few music websites at the moment, between the iPhone, Facebook and the Internet. Most of them offer roughly the same things- music sharing, free downloads, and Internet radio access. There are a lot offering the same things, and quite a lot of things are not being considered. The idea of Psychoacoustics, is to pull all the exisiting qualities of these sites, together, as well as offering new features, and great networking opportunities- for free. The plan is to top Spotify, iTunes and the biggest sites, by offering what they do, plus much more besides. Specific areas and pages on the site will be named after musical figure, albums and events. For instance, a lyrics section will feature Bob Dylan’s name and be themed around here. It is sort of like a music Disneyworld- different zones and characters. This makes it more interactive and interesting than most music sites and is engaging.
Interface:
By accessing
www.psychoacoustics.info, (website currently under planning/construction), you will be able to access the site. From there, there will be a home page. On the home page is a main design. It is an animation of a studio, called Psychoacoustics. It is designed like Abbey Road, and there is constant movement on the page. There will be a bank of about 200 different musicians, who will walk into the page and interact with each other; leave and enter the studio, and keep the user amused. The icons as well as the animation will be colourful and interesting and better designed than most of the music websites out there. The icons and options displayed on the homepage are as follows:
Chat:
There is a chat/Skype option where you can interact with any of your contacts or friends. This can be done via a Facebook-style message service, or Skype. When you add contacts- like Facebook or Twitter- you can chat with any of them at any given time.
Mail:
Your personal inbox; you can mail your contacts, as well as any musician or venue.
Search Engine:
This is a bespoke, specialist search engine. It is similar to Google but responds to questions and searches effectively, returning only relevant websites. It also can record via and audio, so if you were searching for a song title or name of song, it would be able to locate it. The search engine is able to answer specific music questions and ties together information and resources from Yahoo, Google and Bing.
Updates/Events:
This is a diary of important music events and updates specific to the user.
Music Player:
You will be able to create a playlist or jukebox of up to 2,000 songs.
Personal Profile:
You can create your own avatar, and enter all of your information. It is similar to Facebook, but more detailed, and upload photos, videos, and designs. I will go into more detail later, but on your personal profile, is all of your information, favourites, and links. The profile works like Twitter and Facebook but more in depth with fewer faults. I have described the social side of things in a previous mail.
1. Studio and Rehersals:
This is an animated studio and rehersal rooms (about 3 studios with control rooms and one rehersal space). Unlike sites where there are a list of features, you access the features via icons; so for instance you would click on a T.V. or a guitar to access the relevant feature. The tab on the interface is red, and will consist of different shades of red. The specific names and designs for each feature are to be decided, but are as follows:
Music video:
Here you can pitch ideas for music videos to bands, acts and labels. You can protect your idea and sell it for money or use it to gain points and exchange for a reward in the future. There is also a music video store, where you can access any video from any song, and search by genre, artist or time period. Also, there is a software where you can put ideas into and create videos through animation, film or various other techniques and apply them to your own songs.
Album cover:
Here you can view any album cover, ans search for it like the music videos. The features here allow you to design covers using animation, photography or a photography edit where you can mix and edit images and merge together to create incredible designs. From here you can publish them or share, or pitch ideas to bands looking for ideas.
Photography:
This is like Instagram where you can upload photos or designs and edit them, using hunreds of options. Here too you can search for photographers and view images, websites and famous images from music history.
Music video player:
This utilises YouTube where you can view music videos for free and have a favourites list, or share the video to social media.
Song disect/mix:
On this page, you can take any song- from rock to classical and dissect it. You can see what notes are played, and what instruments are played. This helps when writing songs and can learn easily about music. Also you can take sections of various songs and mix them together, and edit the sounds to create new songs.
Entrepeneur:
Here there are guides, links and ways to set up your own record label, festival, or music magazine. You can interact with others online, and get funding in order to set up your own business, and then network on site to attract users and business. Also you can invent new music ideas and instruments; design them on this page and pitch them.
Broadcast:
There is a software where you can design and broadcast your own podcast and radio station. Broadcast over the site or YouTube, play your own songs and broadcasts and get fans and followers as well.
License:
On here you can sell songs to T.V. and film companies and productions.
Band sites:
I will explain more on the registration but when bands and artists sign up they can create their own website and include a wealth of information, and make it easy to promote and get fans.
Sounds:
This is a sound library with thousands of sounds, effects and mixing options.
D.J:
If you are a D.J., here you can mix tracks, scratch and broadcast your own set, via the site and promote your gigs.
Home Studio.
This is a software where you can record vocals, instruments and effects and then send your songs to fans or broadcast the tracks online. There is also software for tuning instruments as well.
Recording and Production:
This allows you to record songs professionally and easily, and provides every technology a modern studio would. You can record vocals and instruments, mix and layer them, and create a professional sounding track. From there you produce the tracks, and broadcast them, and burn them onto C.D. It also allows for album covers to be printed and gives links to sites where you can buy C..D. case and additional software.
Rehersal and Live Room:
These are simulations of studio spaces where you can play live or rehearse. Via Skype you can jam with the rest of your band or solo and be seen by contacts and have your performance saved and shared. There are options for recording. There are guitar, drum, piano, vocal and orchestra options where you can similuate any guitar or piano etc and get the most realisitic sound possible. Unlike software where it is flattering, here you have to know how to play. Like Wii it reacts to touch and you can simulate yourself playing, as if it were real. From there you can either mess around or record the sounds, or join with others or your band members, and jam together. You can tune the instruments and it is as good as the actual instruments. You can do the same with vocals and record as many tracks as you like, and access different mics, and effects. It is able to work with recording so you can record full songs and albums using this. it is not to replace real life but more act as an easy way to share and record demos for when you are in the studio.
2. Bar and Venue:
The venue is downstairs of the studio and the bar upstairs. It is animated like the rest of the site and acts as a portal for socialising and broadcasting. The tab for this is green and appears with different shades of green on the interface.
Radio player.
You can access tens of thousands of digital stations from around the world and stream them live, as well as access archive broadcasts and songs.
Links:
There are links to all music magazines and publications, as well as music websites as well.
Donate:
Like PledgeMusic where you can donate to get album made, and respond to pitches. Artists can offer rewards or treats, and get a % of funds raised. Can network and swap and record vocals or write as well.
Share:
Due to revenue coming from advertisers and labels, the site can pay royalties to artists whose songs are downloaded, and means that songs can be downloaded free, but artists get paid.
Food and Drink:
Links to music venues, as well as music bars and cafes, anywhere in the world, and you can get alerts of any local to you as well as any events that are happening, and share them on the site.
Leagues and Competitions:
There are various leagues for new bands and directors etc. that are updated and points given to the winners. These charts refelct download amounts, most hits as well as popularity too and there are leagues and competitions for new and unsigned bands.
Music Fantasy League:
This is like football fantasy, but you choose a 5-piece band. You have to choose at least one drummer, and one singer, and can choose from any musician from history. You also select 2 songwriters as well and an album and song. There are various points awarded to each depending on how many times they have been downloaded and mentioned, and there is an overal league that updates each week.
Read and Write:
You can publish blogs and reviews of bands and gigs, and albums and publish them and share them, as well as gig reviews and album reviews.
Social:
There is a dating website and connection site for musicians, as well as connect and promote music charities. There are event postings and updates for your local area as well as internationally. You can also tie all of your contacts and friends in from other social sites into this one.
Connected:
Once you have created a profile you can search for potential band members or venues. When bands or acts register, like a dating website you answer various questions such as favourite music, bands and albums. If you are looking for someone you can either type in a search and the site matches people for you, or you can click on a map. From here you can click on any country or city and search for any member located in that area and contact them. There are sections where you can connect bands and venues, labels to acts and band members and bands together. If you make a successful match, you gain points that can be exchanged.
Actors:
This links actors to bands looking for people for music videos, and also can join actors together, who can share links and tips with regards to music, and best contacts and agents.
Contacts:
I have explained all of the social side, but the site works more like Twitter where you can ‘add’ any band or musical act, and follow their progress and updates. There is a LinkedIn style site too where you can connect with employers or contacts and build up a network of fans and followers which gives you greater opportunities.
Live:
You can broadcast live shows and gigs and stream concerts here and share them.
3. Living Room:
This tab will appear shades of yellow. The living room will consist of a sofa, chairs, jukebox and notice board as well.
Music download:
Like Spotify you can download any track for free, and either play them, or create your own playlists and sections. You can complie songs into albums and burn a C.D., or you can share songs via your phone or social websites. There are also links to Spotify and iTunes, as well as music apps too.
Promotion and Distrubuite:
You can listen to recommended music depending on your mood or find any new music depending on your tastes. You can then share them via social media, or you can promote new bands and artists, and share acts with promoters and venues, as well as labels. It works like ReverbNation but more in depth, and gives tools to find new music, as well as share and get your own voice heard easily.
Jukebox:
You can have a playlist of up to 2,000 songs, and play them, whenever you like.
Reference Library:
You can view information about every band, artist or album released. It is like Wikepidia where you can find out anything about music, and gives info about bands, videos, links and merchandise; which allows you access to new music, old music you may have forgotten about, and can access any information whenever you want.
Music Trends/Stats:
There are tables and graphs that show music trends, sales figures and stats relevant to you, that are updated daily.
Charts:
These are all of the charts from home and abroad, updated weekly, with links to all of the songs featured.
Search engine and lyric finder:
The search engine is also available here, but is a lryic finder, where you can type words or lyrics and it finds the song. Also you can input audio or video if you are unsure of the song or artists, and it will find out for you.
Pitch Zone:
If you have spare lyrics or ideas, you can pitch them and trade them with artists. You can earn points for anything that is bought from you, and you can pitch and find ideas for songs. Also you can pitch music, so if you have no lyrics you can match them, and also collaborate with people on site and join your music and lyrics together. From there you can create songs together and share them.
Music Notation and languages:
There is a software where you can learn music and translate your music into musical notes, so that it makes it easier to write music. There is a link to a language site where you can learn any one of 30 different languages for free. This makes it easier to communicate with international contacts as well as write and sing in a different language.
4. Bedroom and Kitchen:
This tab appears as different purple and the bedroom has a bed, wardrobe and table, T.V. etc; the kitchen is a smaller room connected to the room.
Updates:
You can access all of your updates, information and messages here- as well as directy from your personal profile.
T.V. zone:
This allows access to dozens of music T.V. channels as well as archived videos and shows as well, and relevant T.V. shows and performances.
Links:
There are links to music teachers, studios, websites and bars and venues; everything anyone could want.
Creative Zone:
You can chat with anyone; share ideas, stories, gig reviews as well as photography and videos etc.
5. “Acoustic Vinyl”:
This is a specially designed shopping site. The animation is designed like a large Rough Trade store and the tab will be a specially designed one.
Music:
Search by genre, period or artists and find music from them to buy. It pulls together Amazon, iTunes and all music websites so you can compare prices for the album and gives you the most choice you can imagine.
DVDs and Merchandise:
You can search for DVDs and merchandise from any band. This gives you links to shopping sites as well as band sites, so again you can find the best deal.
Others:
You can purchase band and festival tickets, music books, apps and instruments. You can also purchase gift cards too.
Stores:
There are links to shopping websites as well as info for independant stores, with website and address details.
6. Join/Log-In:
This tab is in shades of black and grey.
Registration:
Different registrations. For casual user, browsing, solo, band, promoter, venue, label and other. They ask for different details and different lengths but all very simple and easy.
Log-in:
It allows a simple log in and a feature where you can log in to all of your music and soxial accounts at the same time.
7. About Us:
This tab is going to be detailed in shades of orange.
Studio history:
There is information- fake of course- of how it was set up in East London in 1969, and the story behind it. There is a ‘mock’ Vevo-style video and video history of the studio and founders. It is comical and is also like a guided tour.
About the site:
This is a serious description of what the site aims to do and how it will evolve.
Press and links:
This displays any links to relevant sites and partners, as well as software sites so you can create your own music website.
8. Music Player:
This tab will be in shades of blue. This ties together all of available and your downloaded music so you can play it ongoing and create smaller playlists.
9. Advertise With Us:
This tab is in shades of pink.
Adverts:
This is a seperate page where all adverts from sites, and venues can be displayed. This means it doesn’t interfere with your profile or browsing but can access it any time from this site. Advertisers and sites pay to be published on the site. There are contact numbers and an online form if you want to advertise or subscribe.
10. Contacts/Links:
This tab is in shades of whites and grey.
Contacts:
This details all e mail and phone contacts for every department.
Enquiries:
Up to 6 different contact email and phone numbers depending on the query
Address:
This is the address of the H.Q. and map.
Social media:
This gives links to the Twitter and Facebook sites, as well as YouTube.
Feedback form:
Provide feedback on the site.
Suggestions box:
If you have any ideas for futures or designs, then let us know and will take into account.
FAQ and Troubleshoot:
If you have trouble with any part of the site there is support. Also an FAQ if you have a question and can report abuse or any issues day or night.
Designs and Features:
Points system/Profile:
As well as a detailed profile, on top of everything there is a points system. For every event you promote or song you share, a certain amount of points are awarded. When certain amount of points are awarded, you get a reward. These will mainly be cash prizes and increase in amount. For 100,000 points, a ‘Fantasy Package’ will be awarded, where you can meet any musician or have any experience you want paid for by the website. The profile will be displayed like an album cover, where there are track listing relating to each section (1-10), and details of everything you have done. There are also graphs displayed that represent your progress and updates.
Avatar and animation:
When you register you can create your ownj avatar, to give it the feel of a video game. You can personalise and update it as much as you like. As I said each section is named after a musician or album, to include everything from The Doors, Bohemian Rhapsody and Abbey Road. There will be animated of musicians interacting in each section, and great designs, to give the whole site a feel of a game, or as I mention, a sort of musical Disneyworld.
Ambition:
The idea is to raise money to improve the site constantly, and give royalties to all musicians whose music is downloaded. I want to top iTunes and Spotify and have everything any music lover or artist could ever hope to want. As a singer, who is curious about my vocal range, there are tools for that, recorders, and I can locate a band easily, as well as produce muci video ideas, and record songs.
Access and use:
Available on P.C., and can be downloaded to iPhone or your T.V. This means that anyone, anywhere can access and use it any time. There will be a virtual keyboard to type, and can be touchscreen, so if using it on T.V. makes it a lot faster.
Thank you x
musicmusingsandsuch 